Darnell’s Construction

I became a builder sort of off handed. I found a small lot with a shack on it, bought it and built a small house for fun. I borrowed the money to build it on a handshake. It was tough, and I learned a lot. That was one of several houses I sold that included a producing garden in the back yard. Sherry liked the little house and was convinced I could build.

On one of our evening walks she said the magic words. “Could we sell our house and  you build us a house and get us out of debt?”

“Sure.” Thinking, that will be simple.  We owed about $13,000 on our house in Paw Creek. The next day we started looking for a lot. And put our house up for sale.

We found a lot and using the profit from the small house, paid cash for the land. That house was built entirely by Sherry and I, except the heating and Air. We about gave up when we ran out of money and couldn’t borrow the small amount we needed to finish and our house did not sell..  But my brother in law Dick came to our rescue and borrowed the money for us.

My next to last office (All were in our home)

Again, this post comes about because yesterday I found a few hundred small 6” wood rulers, a couple hundred red pencils, key rings and a hundred balloons.  All labeled Darnell’s Const. Those things are over 20 years old and the balloons still hold air. We used them and house plans at a builders fair.

(That is Jim (Shirl’s husband) he came over to represent Darnell’s Const.)

I have made at least 10 major occupational changes in about 60 years of working. I have been fairly happy in all my endeavors, but building was the charm. It was a job I never got tired of. It was something that made  me forget to stop for breaks and lunch. I loved the smell of wood and the feeling of accomplishment, being able to see a finished product.

The man Luke Tucker was my mentor. A sweet man, a man of even temperament, one who could correct you, without making you feel ‘stupid’. He was also my best friends dad (or he probably would not have hired me!)

After his retirement and after I had earned my General contractors license, He hired me to do an addition for him, the only stipulation was, I had to hire Wendy, his grand daughter, as my lead carpenter. I was proud to do it. Wendy was a hard worker and a great lady, she did not follow construction, but she did a ‘man’s’ work on that job. Love that girl.

Life has a lot of twists and turns, I admire anyone who knows at 15 years old, what they want to do and follow thru. Today at Lowes I was in line behind Dr. M. Murphy(ret). He was in Sherry’s class and knew he wanted to be a dentist in High school, and he did.

I joked with him a minute.  It must be nice to know what occupation you want, and enjoy it.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

If a statue in the park of a person on a horse
has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle.
If the horse has one front leg in the air,
the person died because of wounds received in battle.
If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

(Thanks Shirl)

**************************************************

1908 B & B Benz and Buick

 

(The white tires were before mud was invented, LOL)